Biblical Teaching On The Effects Of Alcoholism And The Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act 1989 (PART 6) - Eastern Mirror
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Biblical teaching on the effects of alcoholism and the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act 1989 (PART 6)

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By EMN Updated: Sep 17, 2014 10:42 pm

Document prepared by Scholars of 5 Theological Institutions (Oriental Theological Seminary, Clark Theological College, Trinity Theological College, Baptist Theological College, Shalom Bible Seminary) under the initiative of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council.

(From previous issue)

Historical Background of the Prohibition: A Review
[dropcap]F[/dropcap]rom the very beginning the Baptist Church had resolved to fight out the liquors and its evils with the Biblical teachings as its basis. In 1875 the American Missionary Conference adopted a resolution in Kolkata for “Total Abstinence from Liquor”. This was binding in all Churches of the Naga Hills. Dr. Clark and Rev. Rivenburg made total abstinence from drink of local rice-beer a basic condition for baptism and admission into the Church membership. Instead they introduced and popularized drinking tea. This prohibition was successful till the independence of India in 1947.
The movement towards total prohibition of alcohol in Nagaland is as old as the Naga Independence movement. In spite of the Act passed there has been less change. This has created a lot of debate among the different sections of the people. In this context our task would be to look into how this Act came to be passed and what has been the result so far, whether it is making any impact on the society or not, was the Act passed because of the pressure from the Nagaland Baptist Churches Council (NBCC) which have been spearheading this movement, or is the Act passed not in the interest of the people?The movement started as the Church’s response to the destructive consequences of IMFL being supplied liberally by the Government of India to confront the emergence of political unrest in erstwhile the Naga Hills and Tuensang Area. with the subsequent Naga National Movement by which the Government of India started supplying Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) into the Naga Hills and Tuensang Area. The large inflow of huge quantity of such Liquor on a massive scale led to many ailments, broken homes, and death of people both young and old. This was ruining the Nagas which was very alarming and forced the NBCC at its Mokokchung session on 5th February, 1962, to resolve to appeal to the Governor of Assam to abolish liquor sale in Nagaland and also urged him to divert the fund for ‘Political Rum’ to some other welfare projects. The Governor acceded to the request and political rum was abolished.
After the Statehood of Nagaland, NBCC under the leadership of Kenneth Kerhuo, Rev. Ayutemjen and Rev. Longri Ao approached the Government to abolish the sale of liquor by 1964. Instead the government issued more licenses and many wine shops were opened in all districts. As a result an alarming situation was created throughout the State by the sale and use of Liquor. Therefore the NBCC in its annual session in October 11-13, 1966 passed a number of resolutions for liquor prohibition.
1. Resolved that all liquor shops and bars in Nagaland should be closed down by the end of 1966, by cancelling all licenses possessed by the dealers.
2. Resolved that the Government of Nagaland should give assurance that no Bill for legalized manufacture and sale of any kind of spirituous liquor will be passed by the State Legislative Assembly.
3. Resolved that the Rum quota annually received by the Nagaland State Government from the centre under the item “Guest Entertainment” should be immediately discontinued.
4. Resolved that all fourteen Naga Baptist Associations should, in their annual sessions, seriously discuss the above resolutions and take positive actions by creating “an all-out Movement” until the objective is fulfilled.
5. Resolved that all the Christian Women Societies throughout Nagaland be urged to organize themselves into “Dry Forces” to combat the manufacture and sale of liquor so detrimental to the peace and security of every Naga home (RenthyKeitzar, Triumph of Faith in Nagaland (Kohima: Nagaland Baptist Churches Council, 1987) 19).
In 1969, the NBCC appointed the Nagaland Central Committee on Liquor prohibition and requested the Government to cut down progressively the quota from wine dealers with an objective to ultimate prohibition. On Feb 3, 1971 NBCC requested the Government to terminate all licences and close down all liquor shops and enforce prohibition by 1973. After which they started organizing meetings and processions in all the major towns of the State where the evils of alcohol were highlighted to the general public (O.M. Rao, LongriAo: A Biography (Guwahati: Christian Literature Centre, 1986) 62). Instead the Government passed the Nagaland excise Rule in 1974, to regulate and promote wine sale in Nagaland.
This action of the Government forced the Nagaland Baptist Women Union under the leadership of Rev.Dr. K. Kapfo to create an Action Committee, with a budget of Rs. 50,000 to meet the expenses for prohibition works (A brief history of liquor prohibition movement, published October 30, 2011). Pamphlets and posters were printed on the evil effects of liquor and distributed for education of people. Women secretaries toured all the districts meeting Government authorities, Town Committee members, leaders and women groups to educate and mobilize people for the movement. Processions were conducted with the help of Church leaders and student unions and memoranda was submitted to Deputy Commissioners to declare dry districts. As a result all districts with the exception of Kohima were declared as dry districts (KeviyiekielieLinyu, Christian Movements in Nagaland.Kohima: Author, 2004. 208-209).
In spite of all these attempts the Government of Nagaland continued to play the delay tactics passing different Bills and giving wrong assurance to the people. This forced the NBCC to resolve to reinforce movement through Hunger Strike and Non-cooperation Movement. A Mass protest rally was organized on Nov 15, 1988 in Kohima and Nov 23 in all district Headquarters demanding the closure of all liquor shops by March 15, 1989. This was followed by a mass movement spearheaded by the Konyak Ngupuh Shuko Ukhong (KNSU) leading to the declaration of Mon as dry on Oct 1, 1988. Similar movement was organized by the Naga Scholar Society for the politicians and leaders of Ao Baptist Arogo Mundang (ABAM), Ao Hoho, Villages, Student Union, G.B Union and Mokokchung Town Committee on Sep 14, 1984 till the then Governor declared Mokokchung as dry on Jan 4, 1989 (A brief History of Liquor Prohibition Movement in Nagaland in The Morung Express, 11 july 2010.).
The fiercest battle was waged in Kohima in 1989 under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Pongsing. Under him the NBCC Total prohibition Action Committee was appointed to spearhead the movement. Strategies were planned which included a non- cooperation movement. An ultimatum was served to declare Nagaland as a Dry State and to legislate the Total Prohibition of Liquor by March 15, 1989. And if the demand was not met Hunger strike would be launched from March 17. When the demand was not met, Hunger strike, protest rally and demonstration were held from 17-20th March 1989 by 5000 volunteers. To which the Government requested for 60 days study period, for which the people dispersed. But after the period ended, the Government asked for extension of 40 days, by which the NBCC called the Church leaders from all over Nagaland to gather at Kohima during the Assembly session to resume the hunger strike.
On 20th June Baptist Associations led by the Executive Secretaries gathered in front of the Legislative Assembly. By 21 June, 1000 delegates gathered at Ao Church for prayer. On 22nd June seven members of the NBCC were called and given the Bombay Prohibition law, 1949 extension to Nagaland which was not acceptable to the NBCC. They out-rightly rejected the Bill and resolved to launch indefinite hunger strike from 23rd June. 125 volunteers started the indefinite hunger strike watched by 1000 Church leaders. The then Chief Minister requested to call off the strike yet it was not called off. Situation turned worse when their health began to deteriorate. After 81 hours of Hunger Strike the Excise Minister withdrew the Bombay Bill on 26th June at 3:00 P.M with an assurance to introduce Total Prohibition Bill in the floor of the Assembly (A brief history, October, 2011.).
Finally the long awaited Bill was introduced in the Nagaland Assembly on Nov 9, 1989. It was passed with section 2 and 79 permitting the manufacture, sell, and transport liquor, section 8-10 provided issuance of permit to institutions for manufacturing, sale and section 25-34 authorized the Director to regulate liquor business. Section 84 stated that Government can manufacture and sell liquor without permit. The Action Committee of NBCC submitted the loopholes in the Bill on Nov 28, 1989. After much deliberations and studies, NBCC had a meeting with the cabinet members. It was agreed that the desired Total Liquor Prohibition Bill will be introduced in the Assembly. At last on March 29, 1990, after 28 years of endless fighting the “Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act” was passed (KeviyikielieLinyu, Christian Movements, 209.). By this Nagaland was finally declared a Dry State.
…TO BE CONTINUED.

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By EMN Updated: Sep 17, 2014 10:42:13 pm
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